Liberating several settlements is only beginning of major counteroffensive — Ukraine’s Defense Minister 

He said this in an interview with the Financial Times.

Reznikov commented on the statements on the “slow” Ukrainian counteroffensive, saying that “When it happens, you will all see it . . . Everyone will see everything”.

He also mentioned that Ukraine's main military reserves, including the recently trained brigades equipped with modern NATO tanks and armored vehicles, have not yet been involved in the operation. Additionally, the minister highlighted that Prigozhin's mutiny exposed the fundamental weakness of Putin's regime.

“It’s like a snowball,” he said, referring to the regime’s self-destructive traits. “The bigger it gets, the faster it rolls.” Reznikov believes this mutiny serves as a clear example of Russia's vulnerability, helping the West understand why they are investing in Ukraine and that Ukraine's victory is imminent.

The minister expressed hope that the events in Russia would encourage partners to increase the supply of weapons to the Armed Forces. He emphasized the importance of trusting Ukraine's security and defense forces and the reliability of their weapon suppliers, which are more predictable compared to the situation in Russia.

Reznikov also revealed that the Armed Forces have achieved certain accomplishments that the General Staff has not disclosed to avoid exposing the troops.

The official further explained that sometimes Russians fail to report to their superiors when they lose certain areas or territories, as they fear the consequences.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive 

The Ukrainian Armed Forces started a counteroffensive on June 4 in the southern front of Ukraine. This offensive included actions near Bakhmut and in the Belgorod region of Russia. 

On June 11, the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced that they had freed the settlements of Blahodatne, Neskuchne, and Makarivka, which are close to the border of Donetsk region and Zaporizhzhia. On June 12, Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar reported that the state flag was once again seen over Storozheve in the Donetsk region.

On June 24, the Defense Forces of Ukraine officially confirmed the liberation of territories near Krasnohorivka in Donetsk region, which had been under the control of the occupiers since 2014.

Hanna Maliar reported on June 26 that the Armed Forces had advanced 1 to 2 kilometers in the eastern directions of the front over the course of a week. During the southern offensive, the Armed Forces managed to free 130 square kilometers. On the same day, the Defense Forces regained control of the village of Rivnopil in the Donetsk region.

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace stated that Ukraine has already liberated more territory as part of the summer counteroffensive campaign than Russia had captured during the entire winter offensive.